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 President's Message

Madeleine East
 
Tena koutou katoa,

Thank you very much to all our members who linked into the zoom meeting last night. 24 of us joined the meeting which started with general greetings and chat as members slowly linked in. A few glitches here and there but nothing serious and everyone was able to take part. My thanks to Ian Fox and his on-the-job training for us, we all learned a few very helpful tips around the protocols of a successful Zoom meeting. Amazing images of hands up, clap hands, smiles etc!!

Geoff gave us an update on Bookarama (later in this Keyway) and the changes that have been made to accommodate Covid. We are very fortunate to have been able to work with the Howick RSA and they have been most supportive in giving us access to their currently vacant building. It is always rewarding to see community groups work together for the benefit of the wider community. All things being equal, and Covid being contained, Bookarama should go ahead this year but with a different time frame.

Sally Fletcher gave us a very interesting and lively “thumbnail” of her life. What an interesting life she has had. Quite the adventuress is our Sally. She started her working life as a Traffic Officer no less !!! not the most popular of professions. She was in fact the first woman “traffic cop” in the Waikato, not always easy I wouldn’t think in a male dominated job, but Sally was, and is not easily intimidated! From here Sally had a variety of roles and jobs including doing her OE. Her jobs ranged from computer work, to nannying, to running a timber yard, and studying design architecture, renovating houses (she has almost completed her current home here in Howick) before finally ending up in her current position back with the Police. Before Sally came back to Howick to live, she lived in Taupo and while there she became interested in Shelter Boxes, she actually was sent to the UK to train, and this interest in Shelter Boxes led her to Rotary which is definitely our gain.
 
Thank you Sally, a very enlightening snap shot into your interesting and very varied life!!

Finally, an update on future meetings. I am of the view that it is really important for us as club to maintain contact within whatever forum is available to us, but I also believe that the face-to-face meetings, interaction with that in mind Mike Abercrombie has organised for us to have use of the Masonic Lodge Club Rooms when we get to Level 2. The Lodge is fully compliant with Covid 19 restrictions at all levels so we will be able to have our meetings in an environment that meets all requirements. You will be able to BYO, and John S and I are investigating some food options, but it will not be a full meal as level 2 does not allow us to do this within our meeting space. We have booked the space from 11th October through until 22nd November at this stage. Meetings will be on 2nd and 4th MONDAY of the month not Tuesday. This is only for the time we are unable to access the Howick Club. Once we go to Level 1 we will return to Tuesdays at the Howick Club. In the meantime, we will continue to conduct meetings, Club, Board and Committee, via Zoom. It will be good for us though to actually get back together as a group so fingers crossed everyone gets tested and vaccinated and we can get back to whatever our normal might be!! We will keep you all up to date as things unfold. In the meantime, stay in touch with each other, be positive and look after yourselves.

Kia tupato, kia noho haumaru

Madeleine East MNZM
President.
Speaker
Sep 28, 2021
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Meeting Duties

Host/Introduction:
Speaker Thanks:
Reception:
Attendance:
Birthdays
Member Birthdays
George Abercrombie
September 13
 
Mike (Michael) Abercrombie
September 15
 
Spouse Birthdays
Anita D'Souza
September 8
 
Latest News
Club Meets on Zoom
 
Not being able to meet together under lockdown a Zoom meeting was held with 24 members attending our digital get together. Virtual cheers and greetings were exchanged with a wide variety of pre-dinner drinks. Prior coaching on the use of the mute button saw the meeting go very well with members learning new Zoom skills with the use of hands up, smiles and thumbs up from the reaction box. Geoff Thompson provided an update on Bookarama and for further news on this community project see below.
 
Our guest speaker for the night was our own Sally Fletcher who shared a brief account of her life. Some of the highlights included coming from farming stock with her family knowing the legendary All Black Clark brothers and her father teaching the great Don to kick a rugby ball no less! She spent time in the UK and Europe on her OE working in a variety of jobs, came home and ran the family timber yard and also trained in interior design and loves renovating houses. She was the first woman “traffic cop” in the Waikato. While living in Taupo Sally became so interested in Rotary’s disaster relief ShelterBox programme that she went to the UK for special training. It was this interest that bought her to Howick Rotary when she moved into the area. An interesting and diverse life and a great member of our team!

Bookarama Report

 
As you are all aware the Covid lockdown has seriously impacted on our TIMELINE to run this event.
 
The original plan was to have sale days from October 12th through to October 17th at Somerville Int School. Because we are now at least 5 weeks behind schedule and have to comply with Alert Level restrictions we have had to relocate the event to an alternative location and have been lucky enough to secure the RSA building in Wellington St. This building is currently empty pending planned demolition in the future.

We anticipate that Auckland will return to level 3 on the 22nd September and this could extend to 6th October.  Level 2 could be introduced on 6th October and extend to 20th October. Following this we could be at level 1. There is of course no certainty that this will actually happen!!??

Our plan therefore is to commence advertising that our Depots will be open to collect from 20th October to 17th November.

We can also collect from homes safely during this period. If you receive calls before this time then collection can be made but remember to follow level 3 and level 2 restrictions.

Sorting can commence during level 3 but numbers must be limited.

We will be in a position to commence setting up RSA probably from the middle of October-this will be decided later on.

At this stage we are recommending sale days at the RSA building commence with the Early Bird evening on 23rd November and sale days 24th November to 28th November.

Our recommendation is that we do not commence any publication of dates etc until after entry into Level 3 which we expect to be on the 22nd September.

We are pleased to advise that we already have a substantial quantity of sorted books-probably more than we were anticipating. We also believe that the lockdown will have given residents plenty of time to accumulate and pack up donations waiting for the word on a revised Timeline for our club’s major fundraiser BOOKARAMA 2021.

A more detailed TIMELINE will be produced to make sure that every single member of our club is involved in the success of this delayed EVENT.

Regards
Geoff Thompson Convenor
 
 

Rotary Foundation News

 
Dear Howick Rotary,
 
I hope this email finds you all safe and well in this long lockdown in Auckland.   It is a difficult time but we will get through this.
 
The September 2021 Foundation News can be accessed by clicking the link.   It contains the normal information with regard to how to make Donations to the Foundation and also the updated list of the 2021-2022 Foundation Committee members.
 
It also contains information regarding a proposed Foundation Dinner in November 2021 (Covid permitting) and a way to virtually raise funds for the End Polio Campaign.
 
Enjoy the read.
 
Yours in Rotary Service
 
Jennie Herring
District Rotary Foundation Chair (DRFC) D9920
 
 

A Little Humour to Lighten Lockdown!

 
 
 

 
 
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